Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using <i>Zingiber officinale</i> and <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> extracts: characterisation, cell cytotoxicity, and its antifungal activity against <i>Candida albicans</i> in comparison to fluconazole

Abstract

Fluconazole (FLZ) application as a highly successful commercial antifungal azole agent to treat the fungal infections is limited due to emergence of FLZ‐resistant candida. In this study, the potential of green synthesised silver nanoparticles (NPs) as an antifungal agent against Candida albicans fungal pathogen is investigated. The extract of ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) and thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) plays as reducing agent, capping agent and antifungal agent. The UV–visible spectroscopy shows the peak of surface plasmon resonance of synthesised Ag NPs after a period of time. The synthesised Ag NPs are spherical, with average sizes of 12 and 18 nm based on ginger and thyme extract, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the adsorption of the plant extract on the surface of the as‐prepared Ag NPs. Based on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method against Candida albicans, the antifungal activity of as‐prepared green synthesised Ag NPs shows higher inhibitory in comparison to FLZ. Finally, the Ag NPs synthesised via thyme extract shows no cytotoxicity with concentration below 3.5 ppm, which can be considered as an appropriate candidate instead of FLZ to treat the superficial fungal infections.